Hogwarts Legacy: The Price of Power

Rage

Sebastian kicked open the door to the Dark Arts Tower, not caring that students were staring, not caring that they might see where he was headed, not caring that their sacred refuge from everything might become known. He lashed the clock with his wand and shouldered through, flinging the iron gate up with a screeching bang.

Ominis was already there, and he whirled at the sound, a light frown creasing his brow.

"Sebastian? I got your note, what's-"

He yelped as Sebastian seized the front of his robes and slammed him into the pillar, snarling in his face.

"You fucking bastard," he spat.

"What the hell!?" Ominis grabbed his wrists, open shock written across his features. "Sebastian! I told you what happened, I couldn't stop them!"

"This isn't about your fucking parents," he snarled. "You insidious little shit, you think I wouldn't find out?"

Ominis struggled, shoving at him, reaching for his wand. Sebastian knocked it from his hand.

"What's wrong with you?" Ominis gasped. "I haven't done-"

"LIAR!" Sebastian yelled. "I know! I heard them in Hogsmeade! You've been trying to take Dracaena from me!"

Ominis stopped struggling, confusion rising to his face, before a flicker of understanding lit behind his eyes, followed by a flash of fear. All of that was gone in a moment, though, as he reared up, his lips curling back.

"Take her from you?" he snarled. "Don't be preposterous, you've been trying to take her from me! I've heard the way you paw at her, groping at her, dragging her around like a puppet!"

"As if she'd ever want to be with someone like you," Sebastian growled, his fists wound tight in his robes. "A fucking Gaunt!"

Ominis slapped him across the face, hard enough to make him stagger.

"If only you knew," he said, his voice low, an uncharacteristically cruel smirk playing about his mouth. "What could she possibly want with you?"

Sebastian laughed, the sound dangerous. "All of me, apparently."

Ominis' smirk slid into open disgust and fury.

"Don't you dare imply what I think you are."

He laughed again, forcing it out.

"Why, you worried you can't compete? As if you could. You're pathetic."

Ominis' lips curved into a venomous grin. "Keep telling yourself that, Sallow. Everything was perfect before you came back and ruined everything. She'd never want a murderer."

To Sebastian, in this moment, Ominis wasn't worthy of his duelling skill. He raised his fist and cracked it across his best friend's face, and Ominis fell with a shout. His fingers groped over the stone for his wand, but Sebastian hauled him up by the collar, slamming him back into the pillar, and Ominis snarled, blood pouring from a cut on his cheek. He raised his own sharp fist, and Sebastian didn't even try to duck.

The punch connected with his temple, and he saw stars, something hot and sticky flowing down the side of his head, releasing Ominis as he stumbled to the side. He rose, turning slowly, seeing Ominis before him, his teeth bared, his fists clenched, and saw an imagined flash of him touching Dracaena, his Dracaena, his spiderlike hands crawling over her perfect form.

The last of his restraint snapped.

With a roar, Sebastian hurled himself at Ominis, and the pair crashed to the floor, punching, kicking and slapping every inch of the other they could reach, rolling over and over, each trying to gain purchase. He grabbed Ominis by the face, raising his fist, and Ominis bit him, his sharp teeth sinking into his hand. Sebastian yelped, rearing back, receiving a punch to the ribs for his trouble as Ominis tried to wriggle away, sliding along the cold stone floor to where his wand was flashing a rapid red.